by David Climer, USA TODAY Sports

by David Climer, USA TODAY Sports

Different things motivate Chris Johnson - greater visibility around the NFL, another 2,000-yard season, the speed of a cheetah, the playoffs.

Don't underestimate the latter.

Johnson arrived in the NFL in 2008 when the Titans went 13-3 and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. He thought that's how every season would play out. Instead, the Titans have not made the postseason since his rookie year.

"It fuels me to get back," he said. "If you've never been to the playoffs, you don't know how it feels. It's a totally different atmosphere when you're playing in the playoffs."

The Titans lost that playoff game to Baltimore 13-10 after Johnson suffered a sprained ankle late in the first half. He had run for 72 yards and a touchdown at the time of the injury. If you had told him at the time that he would not carry the ball in a playoff game in the next four years, he wouldn't have believed you.

"It's been forever," he said.

After an offseason that included racing a cheetah and appearing as a judge on "Ink Master," Johnson is getting back down to football business. He said the made-for-TV race against the cheetah (he's sworn to secrecy on the outcome) confirmed he hasn't lost any of his signature speed.

"It just showed that I haven't lost a step," he said. "I'm ready to really play this game."

Johnson sometimes gets a bad rap for talking about individual goals. Some view his fixation on matching or bettering his 2,006-yard season in 2009 as putting himself ahead of the team. That's not the case. I have yet to talk to anyone in the locker room who believes Johnson is not a team player.

The way Johnson sees it, if he's rushing for big yards the Titans are winning. And the numbers bear him out. During his five-year pro career, the Titans are 24-9 in games when he rushed for 100 or more yards and 18-30 when he didn't. The record jumps to 7-1 when he hits 150 yards. Whether they are building a lead or protecting it, the Titans are a better team when Johnson is running for chunks of yardage.

"Every year I want to rush for 2,000 yards and I feel like if we are doing what is right and we are making plays on Sunday and if I get to that yardage, I feel like we can be a playoff team and hopefully win a Super Bowl," he said.

Coach Mike Munchak has made no secret of his desire to get back to a dominant ground game that controls the ball and keeps the Titans defense off the field. Johnson figures to be busy.

"There's no doubt he needs to have a big year," Munchak said. "We're planning on him having a big year because obviously that means things are going well for us. â?¦ Can we win week in, week out without him putting up numbers and doing well? Probably not."

Through the draft and free agency, the offensive line has been upgraded. Because of age and injury, the Titans struggled up front last season.

"If everybody can jell together, we should be OK," Johnson said. "Just because we've got all those great guys, that doesn't mean there's always going to be great big holes. Hopefully, we can eliminate getting hit in the backfield and those things, just getting a fair chance."

Johnson has even warmed to the idea of sharing the ball with Shonn Greene, especially in short-yardage situations. Greene was a league-best 11-of-11 in converting third-and-3 or less for the Jets last season.

"I'm OK with it," Johnson said. "I never really get any short-yardage plays so it doesn't really matter. â?¦ That's just another piece of this offense - continue to keep the drive going and run more plays."

Greene certainly is a better alternative than his predecessors in the Titans backfield. Javon Ringer and Jamie Harper were not terribly effective in third-and-short situations. You have to go back to the days of an in-shape LenDale White to find a dependable short-yardage back for the Titans.

Greene is more than just a short-yardage runner. He is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Jets. He likely will cut into Johnson's touches.

But come to think of it, the last time the Titans made it to the postseason, Johnson split carries with White. With a return to the playoffs as his top priority, Chris Johnson is willing to share the load.